New Technologies Coming to Disney and Universal

[bears163]

IMO i think HP will hurt disney alot at first. I have not been to Universal yet. would not mind going just for the day but thats it. HP is huge & the fact that all this new technology is coming people will what to go see the new rides. heck it might even get me to go. Disney needs to do something to offset HP in the next 1-2 years for sure

 

[raven]

Uhh, motion simulators instead of the real thing...err...like instead of Dinosaur and Indy simulating the motion of going over bumpy roads you'd prefer they actually go over bumpy roads? :shrug:

No, I said that those rides were fine with me. But I'm from Detroit. The birthplace of bumpy roads. :lol:

 

[sknydave]

I think one of the great things about Spiderman is the fact that it's not just a stationary simulator. The scoop vehicle moves through some cool sets with physical effects.

 

[Angelo-Titan]

While I love Spiderman, and thought that it was the best ride in Orlando hands down, lately it has fallen into a state of disrepair. That is one of the things I think that Universal falls short on, is the maintenance of their rides. Plus if your in the back of the ride vehicle and look to your left or right, the whole falling thing is lost. They only show the movie on the screen in front of you. Surround me with it. I do not know who would just look forward the entire time.

But Disney should build more Dark Rides. Heck if you NEED to make thrill rides do a combo ride like the Mummy. A Dark Ride with thrills thrown in.

 

[SpectroMan]

Test Track was designed in the mid 90's and was so full of problems it opened 3 years behind schedule.

IOA had a very good animatronic attraction in Triceratops Encounter, but closed it (though I heard rumors it may be returning!)

what direction is Disney going in? touch screens on every ride?

Do you not think Islands of Adventure was in the design stages in the late 90's, the time Test Track was being built?

The Triceratops was not that impressive. The way it breathed was pretty cool, but movement was still a little harsh. It cannot compare to Dinosaur.

With the living character initative and the inclusion of interactive elements throughout rides (do you think Mission: Space's joysticks are there for that ending?), Disney is moving into a more immersive experience from their attractions to everything that is going outside in the theme park.

I know all of you think this is far fetched, but the signs are there. Disney is scrambling to use video and gaming technology to make its parks more appealing to the younger generations. While we may not like it, it is the future.

 

[Matpez]

Not to get totally sidetracked but a few posts here about amazing new technology mention Soarin'...
Watching an IMAX movie has been around at 6 flags for decades, Disney simply lifted the seats and added scents. That is in no way on the same level of technological achievement as Dinosaur, Spiderman or ToT.

Also, remember, WDW may not strive to make teenage boys it's target market because they aren't where the money is. Sure we have to keep them happy enough, but look at most parks that cater to their group. That isn't where Disney wants to be. (IMHO)

 

[Pete C]

Plus if your in the back of the ride vehicle and look to your left or right, the whole falling thing is lost. They only show the movie on the screen in front of you. Surround me with it. I do not know who would just look forward the entire time.

I would gamble that 99% of people riding this ride do not look to the sides during the drop sequence. Almost every rider, at least during their first ride, is going to look at what the show designers intended them to look at on the screen. I've been on Spidey about 15 times and I have never looked to the sides during the ending. None of the people I have ever gone on the ride with have ever complained about that either. Most people aren't really looking around when the action is as compelling as it is to watch.

 

[ChrisFL]

With the living character initative and the inclusion of interactive elements throughout rides (do you think Mission: Space's joysticks are there for that ending?), Disney is moving into a more immersive experience from their attractions to everything that is going outside in the theme park.

I don't know why M:S's joysticks or any buttons are there for that matter, it's fake interactivity.

 

[sknydave]

lol the joysticks. They might as well be made out of Papier-mâché

 

[Slowjack]

It definitely isn't just you. I know this because I agree. Is it just Raven and me, or does anyone else find simulators overdone?

I'm the same way, if we're talking about simulators with screens. I like the use of the simulator base on Dinosaur and so on. But I'm tired of "flying" with a screen. I remember when Star Tours first came out, I thought it was great, but I'm over it now, and something like Mission Space, to me, is just like Star Tours. The types of g-forces I am subjected to doesn't make it a sufficiently new experience for me.

That said, if they could really come up with something truly new with a simulator, I might like it. Just, for example, a simulation of a wagon ride trip to the old west, and you get attack by bandits, and maybe it uses screens but old pop-up AAs like the American Adventure, that kind of thing.

 

[Pete C]

I don't know why M:S's joysticks or any buttons are there for that matter, it's fake interactivity.

While this is true, the vast majority of people will not know that and think they are making a difference when they ride it. At least when you press the button you get feedback with sound.

 

[ChrisFL]

While this is true, the vast majority of people will not know that and think they are making a difference when they ride it. At least when you press the button you get feedback with sound.

Well Im sure glad the imagineers are coming to the conclusion that park guests will be dumb enough not to notice

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Well Im sure glad the imagineers are coming to the conclusion that park guests will be dumb enough not to notice

or perhaps they are working on the assumption that few guests are enough to give it a flying fugazi beyond enjoying the attraction. No?

Delighted to see the usual hysteria when Universal is mentioned.

 

[brucie]

Spiderman is amazing, Alien Encounter was Awesome, Tower of Terror Rocks! But Disney does seem to fall a bit short in terms of Dark thrill rides, I love Dinosaur, but Disney seems to be falling behind in this area! I know that's not what the Disney parks are all about, but what about moving AA to DHS where it is a less kid oriented park then MK or focus on more Dark rides like spiderman but improved with the Disney touch, in Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom? I do think Disney needs to step it up a bit, TSM can't be it to compete with all of the new things Universal is doing right now! And I'm not convinced it's going to be great, all I can think of is Buzz Lightyear which is ok but I hope it's completely different!! Oh yeah and I am also completely done with screen rides/shows, I think they are a cheap excuse for an attraction!

 

[MythBuster]

I think they are looking for new rides and technologies that can be upgraded easily. So if they want to change the show or add or subtract things, they can just do by some programming changes and software changes without changing out all of the hardware also. They would save them money in the long run also.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think they are looking for new rides and technologies that can be upgraded easily. So if they want to change the show or add or subtract things, they can just do by some programming changes and software changes without changing out all of the hardware also. They would save them money in the long run also.

Agreed, while it's not the most popular idea, it's very easy to see why they are going this route. Instead of expensive halloween and christmas overlays like HM and IASW have in other parks, they can do a few keystrokes and make the changes overnight...or "upgrade" the attraction whenever they feel like.

 

[Slowjack]

I think they are looking for new rides and technologies that can be upgraded easily. So if they want to change the show or add or subtract things, they can just do by some programming changes and software changes without changing out all of the hardware also. They would save them money in the long run also.

I would disagree with this. I think in the past this may have been a reason for simulators, and I know that this kind of update has been bandied about for Star Tours almost since it was opened. But it's never happened. The film and presentation a simulator opens with is the film and presentation it eventually closes with. Although the cost of a new film and programming are low compared to building a new ride, so is the benefit. If you changed out the film in Star Tours, for example, but didn't really alter the experience otherwise, would it significantly boost ridership? Maybe curiosity would have an effect in the short term, but my guess is that it would soon return to pre-upgrade levels, and I suspect this is why Star Tours has never been upgraded.

 

[MythBuster]

I would disagree with this. I think in the past this may have been a reason for simulators, and I know that this kind of update has been bandied about for Star Tours almost since it was opened. But it's never happened. The film and presentation a simulator opens with is the film and presentation it eventually closes with. Although the cost of a new film and programming are low compared to building a new ride, so is the benefit. If you changed out the film in Star Tours, for example, but didn't really alter the experience otherwise, would it significantly boost ridership? Maybe curiosity would have an effect in the short term, but my guess is that it would soon return to pre-upgrade levels, and I suspect this is why Star Tours has never been upgraded.

I'm talking about the NEW technologies that are computer based not 20 year old technology like Star Tours or Body Wars.

 

[mousermerf]

I'm talking about the NEW technologies that are computer based not 20 year old technology like Star Tours or Body Wars.

How many times have you upgraded a computer by buying a whole new system rather then purchasing new parts....? I have a sneaking suspicion it will be the same here too.

 

[FootballFigment]

Aa!!

Hey im new to the forums so hello to everyone!

now to the post... Imagine having a ride like dinosaur but with the concept of alien encounter.... yes i know it would be awesome :slurp: kinda like an escape from area 51 ride right in the back of DHS! If only i was an imagineer, but for now disney deff needs more dark rides and they would be perfect in the studios.